A man in his 40s from Gloucester has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl on a bus, following multiple reports of inappropriate behavior.
Police were first alerted on Monday, April 20, after the girl reported that an unknown man had been repeatedly approaching her while she waited at a bus stop on Brookfield Road in Churchdown. The incidents occurred around 3:30 pm on several days.
Once on the number 98 bus, the man allegedly touched the girl’s thigh and arm without consent and made sexualized comments towards her. The situation escalated when the girl contacted police again on Wednesday, April 22, after the same man approached her on the bus.
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The bus driver intervened by stopping the bus to prevent the man from escaping. Officers arrived promptly and arrested the suspect. He has been released on conditional bail as investigations continue.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incidents or has CCTV or mobile phone footage to come forward and assist with the investigation. Witnesses can report information to Gloucestershire Police online, referencing incident 339 of April 22.
To reassure the community, the Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team will conduct patrols around school hours in the area over the coming days.